Radiator cap



. .J. F. WHITE RADIATOR CAP Filed June 30, 1921' Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHIN' F. WHITE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T'O 'NHITEPRODUCTS COMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. I

1,557,911 PATENT OFFICE.

RADIATOR CAP.

Application filed June 30, 1921. Serial No. 481,510.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. harm, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Radiator Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in closures of a sort especiallydesigned and adapted for use as caps for closing the nipple ofautomobile radiators in which employment it is specially adapted also tofunction as a retaining connection for an ornament, and an operativemounting and securing means for a display device such as an ornament oran indicating device of the sort known in the trade as a motometer.

The general purpose of the invention is the provision of an improvedform of closure adapted specially for the purpose described, which maybe quickly and easily removed when desired, and yet may be readilysecured in place so as to effectively prevent unauthorized removal.

A more particular object of the present improvement is the provision ofa 'closure having these characteristics, which is adapted to form atight and elfective closure for the radiator tube, so as to insureproper operation of a condensing cooling system, when utilized, and toassure accurate operation of a Inoto-meter supported on the I closure inthe customary operative association wit-h the radiator nipple.

Another particular object of the present invention is the provision ofsuch a closure which is adapted for use upon the various sorts and sizesof radiator nipples now employed in difierent makes of automobiles,without requiring any special fitting or modifications of the radiatornipple, and without any modification of'the external appearance thereof,other than that contributed by the form of the closure itself and theinstrument or ornament carried upon the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision ofsuch a closure havingthe aforementioned characteristics, and which in addition thereto adaptsitself to graceful and pleasing contour and design, sothat in itself itconstitutes an eifective and ornamental finishing mounting for the hoodof an automobile.

Another object is the provisionof such a closure which can bemanufactured at low cost and installed with ease.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out hereinsideration of the latter, it is to be under,-

stood that while I herein disclose two forms in which the inventionmaybe embodied, the same are presented for the purpose of illust-rationmerely, and are not intended to be exhaustive of the possible variationsin its embodiment; nor is the disclosure of these particular forms to beconsidered asa limitation upon the invention as hereinafter claimed suchas would operate to restrict it short of its true and most comprehensivescope in the art.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an automobile radiator cap embodyingmy invention, showing the closure in place;

Fig. 2 is a detail in the nature of a similar section showing the mannerin which the cap is operated in placing it in position and in removingit;

Fig. 3 member;

.Fig. 4 is a section on the line'4:4: of Fig.1;and

is a bottom view of the cap Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of ""modi- Vfied form.

, In the provision of a fully successful closure cap for automobileradiator tubes it is important that the device be effective to form atight closure, and at the same time be readily removable when desired.It is important to have the closure tight, not only to prevent theleakage of water about "the nipple, and the consequent fouling anddisfiguration of the radiator and hood, but also in the event amoto-meter-is depended upon' to show the engine condition, that there beno steamf leakage, as otherwisethe moto-meter will (not T registeraccurately.

Furthermore, when the cooling system is of the condensing type, it isessential 'that'the closure be absolutely leak proof in order to keepthe condensing system" operative. Inasmuch as the fitted: parts aresubjectedto moisture both internally and externally,

most frequently to Water which is fouled with rust, .it is importantthat :the arrangement of the-closure be such as to prevent its, becomingstuck to the radiator tube by touling, so that it may be readily removedby hand when desired, thus avoiding marring the appearance of theclosure by use of atool. Because of the portability and attractivenessof the moto-meters or other ornaments customarily mounted on radiatorcaps, they are particularly susceptible to the-5ft, which circumstancerenders it highly desirable that the connection of the radiator cap besuch as to prevent its unauthorized removal. The improvementsconstituting thesubj'ec't-matter of the present invention accomplishthese several advantages in a highly StitlSfaC'tOIfY manner. I Asillustrated 1n the drawing, the inventionicontemp la'tes the provisionof a suitable b oss or nipple 1 which constitutes the mount ing uponwhich the clesure cap is secured.

This nipple maybe the -radiator tube itself, .or it may be in the natureof a collar adapted for permanent-connection to any form of tube byscrew threads or other means. The latter form is illustrated in 1. Thisnipple is in the nature of a tubular member of circular cross-sectionand ischaracterized byhaving its upper portion of reduced diameter withthe upper niarg1n of its wall plane to constitute a packing surface,below which there is -a peripheral oyerhanging portion constituting aretaining ledge 3. Below this retaining ledge 3 the v nipple is reducedby an annular circumfferen'tial groove 4 of arcuate cross contour, .so:as'lto .a'iford an inclined re-entrant wedging surface on the underside of the retaining ledge. The-closure cap has a top portion 5carrying a depending skirt portion 6 of cylindrical internal form, andof size'to encompass closely the cylindrical outerwall portion of thenipple 1. The top portion *5 preferably is aper'tured axially toaccomimodate the -1nounting of a suitable ornament or instrument M, andsaid cap member isdiurther qualified "to retain a gasket '7 of materialheld in face contact againstthe top portionb and of suitable size tocover the .end of the nipple '1. Projecting inwardly from the skirtportion'ti is a retainingmember Z8, disposed asufiic'ient distance belowthe toplporztion 5 to accommodate the upper imarginal portion of thenipple 1 between said retaining mem'b'eriand the gasket '7 whenilt'he.-latter is somewhat compressed. 'mhej'mner portion of this retaining"member pmrerab1 is shaped to facilitatefits riding upon the curvedsurface or" the annular groove 4. Atanother point on the skirtportion-6, preferably diametrically opposite the retaining member 7, isa movable retaining member '9, which is mounted on the cap member in anyconvenient 'mannersuch as will permit its being moved inwardly toproject into the interior of the cap, or retracted from such position.This movable retaining member is adapted, when in proj ected position,to occupy substantially the same relationship to the 'top portion 5 asdoes the retaining member 8, so as to ac.-

commodate the upper marginal portion of jected and retracted positions.In the em bodiment illustrated in Fig. 1,-the closure cap is shownprovidedwith laterally extending arms 10 terminating in ornamental knobs11. In addition to providing an at: tra'cti've design, an-dailordingmeans where- 'by the closure cap may be manipulated, these arms aiiordmounting places foroneor both of the retaining members '8 and9,-providing a liberal amount of metal as supporting seats for saidmembers. VVhch'the 'shiftable retaining member is so 'mounted, the arm10 and knob 11 may be bored longitudinally, part of the former beingscrewthreaded-toreceive the screw-threaded portion of the shiftableretaining member, and the knob being bored to form mounting for a lockcylinder 12, and slotted to provide seats '14: for the lock tumblers 15.The lock cylinderasshown carries an axial shai t "16 projecting into thebore of the arm and carrying aretaining collar 17 and slipcouplingmember 18; A suitable pin 19 seated in the arm, by cooperation with thecollar 17, prevents withdrawal o i theilock cylinder. The slip-couplingmember 18 is adapted for cooperation with a coupling portion 20 at-theouter extremity of the shaft of the s'hiftable retaining member, so

that rotary movement may be transmitted to the shift-able retainingmember :upon rotation of the look cylinder 1'2, to accomplishlongitudinal shifting of the retaining member while the "longitudinalposition of the lock remains unchanged. The-lock is of .a familiartunibler type which, in *loeked position, is held against rotation bythe seating of the tumblers 15in one or both of the seats 14, from whichposition the tumblers are Withdrawn upon insertion of a suitable key Kwhereupon the lock cylinder :may be rotated freely in its seat, toaccomplish the longitudinal shifting'o f the shi'ftable retainingmember'9,'as stated. v

r In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, the retaining member 8 isformed as a "cast lug on the inner wall of the skirt portion .6, whilethe shiftable retaining memberi9 is constituted of the inner extremityof a screw which is seated in the skirt portion 6 and is manipulatedthrough instrumentality of its knurled head 21.

Other features of the construction of the device will be understood fromFig. 2 illustrating the manner in which the closure cap is applied tothe nipple and removed therefrom. From this it will be obvious that thedimensions of the parts are such as to permit the closure cap beingplaced upon the nipple when the shiftable retaining mem her isretracted. This may be accomplished by tilting the closure cap in'suchrelationship as to permit the retaining member 8 to move into the groove4:. As the cap is then pressed down to its horizontal position the innerportion of the retaining member 8 is rendered effective upon the wedgingsurface of the nipple to compress the gasket 7 between the packingsurface 2 and the top portion 5. When the closure is in position topermit the shiftable retaining member to align with the groove 4:, saidmember is moved to its projected position by manipulation as abovedescribed, in the course of such movement becoming effective upon thewedging surface in the groove 4 to compress the gasket 7 between thepacking surface 2 and the cover portion 5. With the parts in suchrelationship, the cap affords a tight closure for the tube, andis-securely retained in place. In the event the shiftable retainingmember is lock-controlled, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the cap is retainedagainst removal until the proper key is inserted for operation of thelock. Although the cap is thus secured in place and consti tutes a tightclosure, it is susceptible of angular adjustment upon the nipple uponapplication of suflicient force, whereby the ornament or instrument M orthe manipulative arms 10 may be placed in the desired position. Thiscapability of the closure cap for rotation upon the nipple constitutesone safeguard against injury, as it prevents the arms being subjected toinjurious strains in an effort to remove the cap by rotary move ment.

In the event the nipple 1 is applied to a radiator tube as an adaptor,it is desirable that the skirt portion 6 of the cap envelop the nippleto an extent precluding its engagement by an instrument effective toremove it. This is not necessary, of course, in instances where thepermanently mounted tube itself is shaped to form the nipple 1. In theevent a moto-meter is supported on the cap, its bulb is retained inproper operative position within the radiator tube when the cap is insecured position, while its dial is supported in the intended positionfor inspection from the vehicle.

Features herein disclosed but not claimed are claimed in my co-pendingapplications, Ser. No. 411,255, filed September 18, 1920; Ser. No.419,402, filed October 25, 1920; and Ser. No. 420,549, filed October 29,1920.

I claim:

1. In a closure of the sort described, the combination of a nippleaffording a mounting, and a cap affording a closure for the nipple, saidcap being provided with oppositely-extending arm portions whereby it maybe manipulated, said nipple being provided with a peripheral retainingledge, retaining members on said cap in alignment with respectivearms'thereof, said retaining members being engageable with saidretaining ledge to hold the cap against removal from the nipple, andmeans operable in one of said arms for shifting one of said retainingmembers on the cap to permit removal of the cap from the nipple bymovement imparted to the cap through the instrumentality of an arm.

2. In a closure of the sort described, the combination of a nippleaflording a mounting, and a cap affording a closure for the nipple, saidcap being provided with oppositely-extending !arm portions whereby itmay be manipulated, said nipple being provided with a peripheralretaining ledge, re,

taining members on said cap in alignment with respective arms thereof,said retaining members being engageable with said retaining ledge tohold the cap against removal from the nipple, shifting means operable inone of said arms for shifting one of said retaining members on the capto permit removal of the cap from the nipple by movement imparted to thecap through the instrumentality of an arm, and locking means forcontrolling said shifting means.

JOHN F. WHITE.

